FOOLS

The Bible states to stay away from fools (Proverbs 14:7)

The word fool is mentioned numerous times throughout the Bible, especially in the book of proverbs, also called the book of wisdom. As you will see, a fool is the opposite of someone who is wise. The Bible also calls a fool the person who disregards God’s Word.  Abusers and control freaks tend to disregard God’s Words and laws of LOVE and humility. They enjoy using inaccurate translations and interpretations founded in paganism (the Greco-Roman mindsets of multiple gods and male superiority) to put women down so they can have the power and control (see blog on power and control).

Fools often slander, devalue, exclude, discriminate, manipulate, control, silence, or put down others, especially women. When they use God’s Holy Scriptures for these purposes it is spiritual abuse.  They use spiritual teachings or pagan interpretation of scripture to restrict women’s freedom and justify abuse. Continually putting the Father’s daughters down – devaluing and dehumanizing them should be a clue that their interpretation of scripture is wrong. It is best to be wise as Philippians 2:3 states “Don’t do anything for selfish purpose, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves”.

You will notice that the following scriptures regarding fools can be used to describe those who can’t control their anger, including abusive, controlling, self-centered people. God wants us to stay away from these people. Just because you are married to one, does not mean you have to stay (see blog Abuse IS Grounds for Divorce). This includes all forms of abuse and control, not just physical.  You will see that God says verbal or emotional abuse is as bad as physical. Many women are not even aware that they are in an oppressive, emotionally abusive marriage. Holy Spirit once told me, staying in an abusive marriage is not a marriage but a prison sentence – not from God! (see my book Let My Women Go! for the emotionally abusive list).

Proverbs 18:2 -            Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.

Proverbs 29:11-           Fools vent their anger,  but the wise quietly hold it back.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 -         Don’t be too quick to get angry  because anger lives in the fool’s heart.

Proverbs 14:29 -          People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.

Proverbs 10:18 -          Hiding hatred makes you a liar;   slandering others makes you a fool.

Proverbs 1:7 -              Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Proverbs 18:6 -            Fools’ words get them into constant quarrels

Matthew 5:22 -             But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister (wife) you will be liable to judgment, and if you insult a brother or sister (wife), you will be liable to the council, and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire.

Proverbs 18:7 -            The mouths of fools are their ruin; they trap themselves with their lips.

Proverbs 10:23 -          Doing wrong is fun for a fool, but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.

Titus 3:1-11 -              

Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. ² They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.

³ Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. ⁴ But—

When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, ⁵ he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.^[a] 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. ⁷ Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.

⁸ This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.

⁹ Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees^[b] or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time. ¹⁰ If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them. ¹¹ For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them.

Psalm 14:1 -                 Fools say in their hearts, There is no God. They are corrupt and do evil things; not one of them does anything good.

Proverbs 13:20 -          walk with wise people and become wise; befriend fools and get in trouble.

Matthew 7:26 -             But everybody who hears these words of mine and doesn’t put them into practice will be like a fool who built a house on sand.

Isaiah 32:6 -                 Fools speak folly; their minds devise wickedness, acting irreverently, speaking falsely of the Lord,  leaving the hungry empty, and depriving the thirsty of drink.

James 1:19-20 -            ¹⁹ Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to grow angry. ²⁰ This is because an angry person doesn’t produce God’s righteousness.

Proverbs 12:15 -          Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.

1 John 3:8 -                  The person who practices sin (arrogance, pride, self-centeredness, control, all forms of abuse, misogyny, discrimination, division) belongs to the devil, because the devil has been sinning since the beginning. God’s Son appeared for this purpose: to destroy the works of the devil.

Psalm 5:5 -                   Arrogant people won’t last long in your sight; you hate all evildoers;

Arrogant people are also considered fools.  The definition of arrogance in the Webster’s dictionary is “an attitude of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or assumptions." It is to think you are superior while others are inferior, which God hates (James 4:6). They don’t even realize that they are being evil or abusive or would never admit it. What an affront to God to even state He created inferior humans. The definition of inferiority is “the condition of being lower in status or quality than another.” We are stating that God created poor quality humans or for some to bow down to other more superior human beings? So racism, sexism, and misogyny is from God? How we can’t see this is from the devil’s playbook is beyond me! As Psalms 5:5 states, arrogant people are evildoers.

Putting others down, which include saying women or their feelings are irrational is considered verbal and emotional abuse. Verbal abuse is just as bad as physical abuse in God’s eyes:

“And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.⁹ Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.” (James 3:6-9)

The Bible states revilers, or the vile (those who verbally abuse, degrade, scorn, curse, are mean), are being hateful and will be thrown in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8) if they don’t repent – turn from their wicked ways.

Self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that can only grow when we abide in the Father.  It is quite clear that many are not abiding, or their behavior would be different. It is difficult to have reverence for Christ when many revere themselves more. Ephesians 5:21 says to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. In addition, husbands cannot be above wives, it is a sin of idolatry. The definition of idolatry is to put anything or anyone above Christ. Christ should be more than enough. He is the only mediator between God and all humans. The Bible also says we shall know them (Christ followers) by their love and by their fruit (character, behavior, fruits of the Holy Spirit).

Divorce is not foolish or evil, but abuse is. Divorce becomes necessary and is wise when people refuse to repent from their arrogant, prideful, controlling and abusive ways. Emotional abuse, violence, misogyny, pride, arrogance and control are sins. We must also see the fruit of repentance in their words and actions. Where is the accountability? You have every right Biblically and legally to leave a controlling or abusive marriage, whether emotional, verbal, spiritual, or physical abuse. (see my blog Abuse IS Grounds for Divorce).  God commands us to be wise and stay away from fools!

See my books

Let My Women Go! Setting Women Free from Oppression in the Church and in Marriage, or

Before the Ring and Beyond, the Ultimate Key to a Healthy Marriage

Be free to be mighty for Jesus

In freedom and might

Jeannette